SDSU Signs Two More to Letters of Intent, Increase Recruit Total to 21

Two more high school football players signed national letters of intent Thursday with San Diego State, giving the Aztecs 21 recruits.

The Aztecs signed Fred McLaurin, a 6-foot 3-inch, 225-pound tight end from Highlands Park High School of Sacramento and Jason Swaney, a 6-4, 225-pound defensive lineman from Coronado High of El Paso, Texas.

McLaurin caught 25 passes for 700 yards (an average of 28 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns last year while earning all-City and all-Delta League honors. McLaurin also played outside linebacker in high school, but the Aztecs will utilize him solely as a receiver.

Swaney, who also played offensive tackle, was a two-year starter and won all-district and all-city honors as a senior.

Overall, the Aztecs have signed 17 high school recruits and three community college transfers. Crawford’s Mark Hayes (6-7, 235) committed to San Diego State Wednesday, but it is not considered final because Hayes is not 18 and his mother did not sign the letter, too.

Other universities can continue pursuing Hayes until she signs or until he begins practice with the Aztecs this summer.

The Aztecs signed 11 linemen (five offense and six defense), three linebackers, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back, a place-kicker and a defensive back.

Of the linemen, seven are 6-5 or taller. Denny Stolz, new Aztec coach, thinks height might be the most important attribute a lineman can have.

“You can make someone heavier and stronger, maybe even quicker,” he said. “But you can’t make him taller.”

One player who apparently did get away was Mesa College linebacker-running back Joe Smylie. The Aztecs announced his signing earlier, but Wednesday Smylie told Stolz that he was entering the ministry.

In other signings, Sweetwater High running back Martell Black (6-3, 220) signed a letter of intent with the University of Utah.

Black, who also plays basketball, said Tuesday he wouldn’t make a decision until week after narrowing his choices to Utah and Nebraska. But he signed late Wednesday night after Sweetwater’s basketball game against Bonita Vista.

Black’s decision eliminated any chance of him being reunited with high school teammate Terry Rodgers. Rodgers, The Times’ Player of the Year, said he won’t make a decision before the weekend. He is considering Nebraska, Texas and USC.

Black and Rodgers played in the same backfield for three years, leading Sweetwater to consecutive 3-A section championships in 1983 and 1984.

They also helped the Red Devils establish a county-record 36-game winning streak. That streak was snapped by Helix in the semifinals of last year’s playoffs.